Belize Telemedia Inks 4G Deal With Ericsson“On January 20th 2012, Executive Chairman of Belize Telemedia Limited, Mr. Nestor Vasquez and Chief Operations Officer, Mrs. Karen Bevans took evolutionary steps towards bringing the fastest mobile network to Belize, when they signed a contract with world renowned telecommunications giant Ericsson, for the provision of an advanced mobile cellular network that will offer 4G services to DigiCell customers across the Country.

With roots in Carib the Afri-Garifuna Jazz Ensemble moves into new musical rangeJames Lovell and Lucy Blanco Afri-Garifuna Jazz Ensemble are going back to their Caribbean roots while venturing forward into new territories through their band the Afri-Garifuna Jazz Ensemble.
Later this month, the group will be holding a fund-raiser to help finance the recording of its first album.
“Our goal is to introduce jazz music to the Garifuna community and introduce Garifuna to the jazz community and share our story through music,” said singer Lucy Blanco of the band's unique blending of the two music forms.
“James and I are the only Garifuna musicians. He is Garifuna from Belize and I was born here, but my parents were Garifuna from Honduras,” said Blanco, who met Lovell, a percussionist/vocalist, a few years ago.

The Bachelor week 7 preview - Ben confronts CourtneyMonday on The Bachelor, Ben takes the final 6 girls to beautiful Belize.
Time is running out and the hometown dates are next and Ben needs to figure out whose family he wants to meet.
On this episode there will be three one on one dates and one group date, so every girl gets some time with Ben.
Lindzi gets one of the one on one dates and her and Ben take a romantic helicopter ride before they get to the famous Great Blue Hole of Belize.
What Lindzi does not realize is that they will be jumping into that hole.

Update on Nomination and Election DayThe Elections and Boundaries Department has announced the date for nomination for all those people wishing to contest the March 7th municipal election. Nomination Day has been set for Wednesday February 15th, two days prior to nomination for general elections which has been set for Friday February 17th. So far there are three known mayoral candidates and fourteen councilor candidates that have indicated their desire to contest the municipal elections. Contesting the general elections are at least four candidates who seek to represent the Belize Rural South Constituency.

New species of grasshopper-like insect discovered in BelizeScientists at the University of Illinois, USA have discovered a new species of tiny, grasshopper-like insect in the tropical rainforests of the Toledo District in southern Belize. Dr. Sam Heads and Dr. Steve Taylor co-authored a paper published today in the journal ZooKeys documenting the discovery and naming the new species Ripipteryx mopana, a name devised by Heads and Taylor to honour the Mopan people.

Robert “Bobby” Lopez to contest elections in Belize Rural SouthParty Leader of the Belize Unity Alliance (BUA), Robert “Bobby” Lopez, will contest the upcoming March 7th general election in the Belize Rural South (BRS) Constituency. The official announcement was made on Monday night, February 6th, while he was on the local Reef TV show in San Pedro Town. Lopez, who is a member of the Vision Inspired by the People party, is contesting the general election under BUA which is the umbrella alliance for the VIP, the People’s National Party and most independent candidates for municipal and general elections 2012. Lopez is the 10th person that will contest the general election under the BUA for 2012.

187 immigrants become BelizeansThere was much scrutiny and public discussion over the multiple naturalization ceremonies held at the George Price Centre for Peace and Development by the Immigration Department in January of this year. Swearing in ceremonies are customarily conducted once a month and today at the George Price Centre 187 immigrants took their pledge of allegiance to Belize this afternoon in the city of Belmopan.

So This Is What I'm Missing...So...I'm supposed to be staying in to rest all weekend. Ugh.
I went outside for a few minutes this morning and this is what I am missing. Perfect weather, a nice breeze and not one cloud.
My pool at Royal Palms... my shadow in the picture proves that I am alive! I miss you pool.

Vacations for Women: 13 Ways To Go Slow on Caye Caulker in BelizeGo Slow on Caye Caulker:
Caye Caulker is one mile by five miles of white sand atop a limestone shelf, offering Caribbean color, barefoot living and below the radar vacationing. Here’s our expert guide on how to go slow and go troppo in this tropical destination.

What a Difference a Water Taxi Ride to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye Can MakeLet me start by saying I’m very, very far from an expert on San Pedro Town, but my Mom and I took a break from the quiet, friendly Caye Caulker to spend a few hours in San Pedro. There are some very distinct differences between Caye Caulker and San Pedro Town and I’m not just talking about the physical size of them.

Belize 2012 - A Student Trip to BelizeOn February 8th, the eighth grade class of Naples Christian Academy along with several parents and faculty will travel to Belize City, Belize to partner with CALMS and Mirirh's Ministry. Please pray for us as we share Jesus through our songs, skits, service, and our attitudes. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

Corozal Police Investigate Apparent Murder Of Orange Walk Taxi DriverDetails are still sketchy but CTV3 News understands that late this evening the dead body of a male taxi driver from the Orange Walk District was found inside a green Ford Escort bearing Orange Walk license plate D-00206 parked inside some bushes approximately 200 yards off the San Andres Road.

Traffic Accident Leaves One Women Dead And Her Four Year Old Daughter In ComaTonight a woman from the Village of San Andres in the Corozal District is dead and her four year old daughter is in a coma at the KHMH as a result of traffic accident. The incident happened around 8:30 last night while 25 year old Aurelia Blanco and her four year old daughter Luzelly Tun were heading to a party. When we visited the scene of the accident this morning we found out that both mother and daughter were knocked down a few feet away from home.

People From Orange Walk Central Welcomes John BricenoJohn Briceno, he is the current Area Representative for Orange Walk Central and is once again seeking re-election under the party that saw him grow as a politician, the Peoples United Party. Briceño has won four straight terms as Orange Walk Central Area Representative. In 1993 he ended the political career of the then Orange Walk Central Area Rep. Lelise Carballo. In 1998 Briceno decisively defeated U.D.P Candidate Ruben Campos and in 2003 victory was once again obtained for the P.U.P in Orange Walk Central when Briceno won his U.D.P opponent Miguel Urbina. In 2008, realizing that Orange Walk Central was one of the strongholds of the P.U.P, the U.D.P came up with the idea that the only way to win Briceno was by finding a candidate with major finances. And that is when Rosendo Chendo Urbina came into the picture. But despite all his millions, on Thursday February 7th 2008, the people of Orange Walk Central rejected Urbina and once again elected Briceno as their Area Representative. Apart from being the former Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno has served the people of Belize and Orange Walk Central as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Commerce and Industry.

Doc. Mendez Hits The Campaign Trail And Meets With Residents Of Orange Walk EastAnd while John Briceño is being well received by residents of his area, so is PUP Orange Walk East Standard Bearer Marco Tulio Mendez. “It has been very, very good and I could see that there is lots of support for the People’s United Party, they want a change, we know that times have been difficult in our entire area in Orange Walk East Constituency and it has been very good, it has been very receptive. The people of Orange Walk East constituency is a big constituency and the people already need the Poly-clinic, a well organized Poly-clinic and that will provide the basic medical health services for them, I mean taking care of pregnant women, taking care of hypertension, asthma, taking care of infection and common infection in children, those are the things that really are very, very basic to provide for the Orange Walk East Constituency.”

Free Medical Services Offered At The NRHIt’s not the first time that we run a story about US missionary groups that arrive in Belize, set up their medical equipment and offer free dental and cosmetology services to resident’s of the Orange Walk District. We find it most informative to air these stories so that the community can take advantage of the free services.
The Horizon Community Church Missionary Group from Cincinnati arrived in Orange Walk earlier this week and since then has been offering free medical services at the Northern Regional Hospital. Davinder Manget is a U.S National Facial Plastic Surgeon, who says that the community should take advantage of the services they offer.

BMHS Business Fair Huge SuccessToday Bishop Martin High School held their annual Business Fair which served as an opportunity for students to interact with the community while displaying their products and business services. While students of the third and forth form level focused mainly on the aspects of business, students of the first and second form division focused on Belizean culture.

Rotaract Orange Walk Receives Club Of The Year AwardFrom February 3rd to the 5th Rotaractors from across the country converged in Belmopan to celebrate the Rotract Intercitidina for 2012. This year the reunion was held under the theme “Reach Within To Embrace Humanity”. In addition to accomplishing certain business goals, Intercitidina fosters the sense of fellowship, which is a fundamental principle of Rotaract.